1. Notify the trip leader, as early as possible, that you would like to participate … even if you cannot totally commit at the time of notification. This will “keep you in the loop” regarding any changes to the plan. Please (privately) share any relevant medical issues with the trip leader. Trip leader contact information is included at the end of each trip description.

2. Current KCC and ACA membershipsare required to participate in any KCC event. We prefer that you sign up prior to the event, but if you are unable to do that, we can help you join that day.

3. You must wear a fully-zipped PFD (Personal Flotation Device) when on the water.

4. Everyone is required to sign and follow KCC Trip Guidelines. These guidelines provide useful paddling information, including helping you grade your paddling skills. Every participating paddler is responsible for knowing his or her abilities.

“Blue Button” indicates"Beginner-Friendly Trips."

​"WW" - Whitewater Trip

Please also watch the Forum on this website and the KCC Facebookpage for spur-of-the-moment trips & events and also for last-minute changes to the schedule.

2019 Winter Hike Series

The first hikes in our Winter Hike Series are listed below. We plan a variety of easy to moderate local hikes that are typically 1.5 to 2.5-hours long. We consider trail conditions and weather forecasts before posting hikes. We are currently looking for additional hike leaders. Please contact Tina Ehrig if you are a member willing to take us on one of your favorite hikes!

Winter Pool Sessions - Starting January 2019

WHEN: Sundays from 6:00-7:50 pm: January 13, 20, 27; February 10, 24; and March 10 (alternate in case of cancellation)​WHERE: Muhlenberg High School Pool, 400 Sharp Avenue, Reading, PA 19605.WHAT: Pool sessions are intended for practice and for relieving “cabin fever” in the winter. We practice our rolls, braces, strokes, and play-boating moves in the 80° pool! It just feels good to be back in our boats! Boats must be totally clean. Helmets and PFD required. Per-session fee of $10 pays for pool rental. Must be a KCC member ($15 to join) and an ACA member. Or pay $5 for ACA insurance. It’s easy to join at the pool sessions. LEADER: Russ Scaramastra, 610 -223- 8375, [email protected]

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Leaser Lake Hike and Wanamakers General Store Lunch

Meet at 10am inside Wanamakers General Store, 8888 Kings Highway, Kempton, PA 19529. Quickly order sandwiches and/or soup for a treat after our hike (see menu at Wanamakers General Store). This old-time store offers food, gifts, candles, toys, baked goods, and a bathroom! From the Wananmakers General Store, we will drive approximately one mile north on Kings Highway (PA-143), then left onto Pleasure Court to the South Launch parking lot at Leaser Lake. We hope to start hiking by 10:45am and return to Wanamakers General Store around 1pm for lunch. There will be one steep descent on the hike that may be slippery if muddy or icy. There are also two short, moderately steep up-slopes. Some of the trail is wide open, some through woods, some along the lakeshore. All of it is very pretty and quiet. Leashed dogs are welcome. (For more information, see Leaser Lake Loop Trail Map or Leaser Lake Information). Note that Wanamakers opens at 10am on Sunday so there is no sense in arriving early. LEADER: Tina Ehrig, 610-334-7606, [email protected]

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Hike Blue Marsh Lake Skinners Peninsula and Wine Tasting

Meet at 10am at Blue Marsh Lake Road Parking Area, 194 Lake Rd, Robesonia, PA 19551 (the parking lot is basically the loop at the dead-end of the road – just park on the grass). Pack fluids and lunch. We will hike for about 2-2.5 hours plus time to eat our lunch either during the hike or right after (group can decide). We will do the Skinners Loop (I estimate about 3 miles) and will have an optional additional 1-1.5 miles to the diving rocks and a tiny waterfall, which has some steep sections. We will decide as a group to do or skip the last piece. Most of the trails here are wide and relatively flat, but there are a couple moderate hills. But these hills are worth the climb, as they provide beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and lake. Note there is no bathroom at this trail head so stop at the Church Road lot on your way if you need a pit stop.

We will then drive to the Clover Hill Winery at 1 E Meadow Rd, Robesonia, PA 19551, which is only an 8 minute drive, and enjoy 5 tiny and free wine tastings (you pick from a selection of 30 wines). This is not enough alcohol to fill a glass so there is no worry about drinking and driving. If anyone cares to purchase a glass of wine or bottle they will be available. I will ask if I can bring some cheese and crackers to complement our wine selections. This winery classifies and describes their wine so well, it turned me from a wine hater into a wine enthusiast! It is a whole lot of fun! Wine list(scroll down a bit from top)​Leader: Michelle Hnath

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Hike Blue Marsh State Hill to Stilling Basin

Meet at 10am at Blue Marsh Lake State Hill Lower Parking, State Hill boat launch, 530 Brownsville Rd, Reading, PA 19608 (the parking lot is at the bottom of the hill). Pack fluids and a snack. We will hike for a total of about 5 miles (to the Stilling Basin and back). Most of the trails here are wide and relatively flat, but there are a couple moderate hills.

Leader: Kathy Bowser

Saturday, January 26, 2019 - Rain/Snow Date: 1/27/19

French Creek State Park - Mill Creek Trail Hike

Meet at 9:30am at the Parking Lot at Shed Road and PA 345, which is 1028 Shed Rd, Douglassville, PA 19518. Start the roughly 2 hour, 3-4 mile hike right across the street from the parking area. Wear boots, bring poles, snack/lunch and water. Will be hilly and marshy in some areas. This is my favorite hike in the Hopewell Big Woods. We head east on the Mill Creek Trail up Chestnut Hill to Miller's Point overlook through a mature forest with lichen-encrusted boulders. From Miller's Point we'll switchback down into the Mill Creek valley through a fern and beech forest. Once we cross both branches of Mill Creek the trail climbs through mountain laurel until it enters an area which burned 5 or 6 years ago; we'll see the remains of scorched trunks. Hiking out of the burned area we'll join the Raccoon Trail which descends along Baptism Creek until it crosses the Lenape Trail. We'll then follow the Lenape Trail back up the slopes of Chestnut Hill and join the Mill Creek Trail once again to return to our cars.

Accommodations: Assuming that the federal budget impass is over by the 26th the Hopewell Village visitor center opens at 9:00 AM; this has the only nearby public access rest room with running water. That's why we're meeting at 9:30, so plan accordingly. During our hike we'll only have access to the bushes. After our hike, there's a delightful bakery/creative lunch/coffee place in St. Peter's Village -- about a 10 minute drive from the parking lot -- if you wish to put some calories back on.

Let me know if you are coming and provide your phone number for possible last minute changes. LEADER: Rob Kuhlman, 610-326-2037, [email protected]

Saturday, February 2, 2019

Hay Creek Trail Hike

Meet at 10am at the dirt parking lot across from 2050 Hay Creek Rd, Birdsboro, PA 19508.This hike is beautiful, and follows Hay Creek through the woods. Will take about two hours, not counting a lunch break at Trap Rock Quarry. We will explore the old railroad bed, which is easy walking. Then we will turn left onto 'Billy Goat Trail' which is mostly easy with a couple of moderate slopes. Then we will hike to Trap Rock Quarry, where people rock climb. We can take a side path to the old ruined bridge on Hay Creek Road to see one of the cable crossings nearby. To return from the quarry, we will take a slightly different trail which follows closer to Hay Creek. LEADER: Tina Ehrig, 610-334-7606, [email protected]

Saturday, February 9, 2019, Rain/Snow Date: Sunday 2/10/19

Valley Forge National ParkMeet at 10am at the temporary visitor center parking lot near 1400 N Outer Line Dr., King of Prussia, PA 19406. The main visitors center is being renovated so you have to drive past it to the temporary visitor center (look for signs) and park right at the temporary visitors center.

We will either do a 4 mile hike which includes a mountain (not real high) and a stop at Washington headquarters) or we can do the 5 mile loop around Valley forge. It will depend on what the group wants to do . We can then go to a late lunch at Iron Hill Brewery in Phoenixville (a short drive away) if people are interested.

Meet at 10am at 1954 St. Peter's Road, Pottstown, PA 19465 (don't follow Google Maps directions to Coventry Woods or you will end up on the wrong side of the park). The entrance we are using is at the "T" intersection of Fernwood and St. Peter's Rds. This is the site of an old Chester County Campfire Girls Camp. A maze of trails still connect the many charcoal hearths to which wood was hauled by wagon to make charcoal. It took 30 cords of wood to make 1100 bushels of charcoal. 800 bushels were needed to keep Berks County’s Hopewell Furnace going for one day! There is a porta potty next to a little parking lot where we will meet. It is a short walk to a pavilion with a fire place where we will warm up with homemade soup, coffee and hot water for tea after the hike.

Short carpool drive to the Cove Ridge Trailhead. This is an easy 3-1/2 mi hike that begins with a bridge crossing the picturesque Wild Creek, then a short climb to the ridge that borders the Wild Creek Cove section of the lake for the first half of the hike. The second half is a meandering trail through a mature forest & culminates at a beautiful waterfall

Green Lane Reservoir HikeMeet at 9:30am at the Knight Rd. parking lot just off Gravel Pike (Rt 29). Hike some of the Red Trail and Honeysuckle Trail at Green Lane Park for a 2 1/2 to 3 hours, covering about 5 1/2 miles. Mostly easy rolling terrain, but there is one stream to cross (out and back) with wobbly stepping stones, so waterproof boots recommended. There is a walk around for the stream crossing, along the shoulder of Knight Rd, that can be decided when we get there. Relatively nice Port-a-Potty at parking lot, plus a pavilion where we can have lunch at the finish, if desired.

From Pottstown, I travel north on Rt 663 towards Pennsburg, and turn right onto Knight Rd. This is at a traffic light at the top of a hill. Knight Rd goes right, Kutztown Rd goes left at this light. Be aware that Rt 562 is closed between Yellow House and Boyertown for bridge repair, if you thought of using this from Reading area.

Note: When I used Google maps, Green Lane Park-Parking-Red Trail came up as an option, as long as KCC members go to the Knight Rd parking area. However, it looks like the house on the corner of Knight Rd and Gravel Pike (29) is 1102 Gravel Pike, Green Lane, Pa, 18054. Both of those should get people VERY close.Also, if people want to go north on Rt 100, they would pass Quigley Dodge in Bally, then watch for Kutztown Rd on the right. Take Kutztown Rd, cross Rt 663, and continue onto Knight Rd to near the end where it meets Gravel Pike (29). Contact LEADER: Sydne Romig, 484-644-1821, [email protected] if planning to attend.